During the first semester of his junior year, Kyle was hospitalized and diagnosed as a junior diabetic. Kyle was withdrawn from school and was tutored at home. In June 1994, the Grandmother learned that her home tutoring situation would not result in a diploma for Kyle. The superintendent believed the school's position was to allow the home tutoring in order to assist Kyle through the evaluation period until an alternative program could be found. The superintendent told Ms. Ruby that Kyle would not be receiving a diploma and she filed a complaint with the school board.

Iowa law and rules do not require the awarding of a diploma to individuals completing a board's graduation requirements. When a high school diploma is issued, it effectively certifies to society that the student possesses all of the knowledge and skills required by the district board of education. The standards of issuance are left to the local district policy makers.

Absent the showing that the board's decision was contrary to its established policy or that the established policy was unreasonable, the denial of the diploma was affirmed.

That the decision of the West Sioux Community School District denying a diploma to Kyle Ruby was affirmed.